Mechanical heterogeneity of dentin at different length scales as determined by AFM phase contrast

► Phase contrast in tapping mode AFM correlates with energy dissipation of dentin. ► Intertubular dentin dissipates more energy than the peritubular dentin. ► The overlap zones of dentin collagen are more compliant than the gap zones. ► AFM phase contrast increases with amplitudes of the tapping cantilever.